END OF A MARATHON: Charles Flèche and Suigi Aurélie Kuoch of France at the finish line of their year and a half journey.
SURPRISE: Charles was surprised to see his friends, (right) Lugosi and Magalie, from France at the Cambrai Hotel.
After 539 days and 20,768 kilometres, Charles Flèche and Suigi Aurélie Kuoch of France have completed their journey from Cambrai, France to Cambrai in South Australia.
The pair completed their marathon journey on August 3 at 1.20pm after heading off in February, 2011.
“We wanted to travel around the world but we didn’t know how or where,” Charles said. “Then we found out about Cambrai in South Australia and decided travelling from Cambrai my home town to Cambrai in South Australia would be a fun thing to do.”
Through fog, rain, snow, tyre punctures and cold wet nights Charles and Suigi rode their bikes through three continents and 13 countries. The best part of their trip was when they toured Asia.
“It’s such a different culture and we really enjoyed our time there,” Charles said.
“We spent one year in Asia. We travelled from Kazakhstan to China to Vietnam. The welcoming of people was absolutely amazing.”
While many nights of the journey was spent in their tent Charles and Suigi were also able to spend a few nights in a warm home thanks to the hospitality of people they met during their journey.
During their stay in the Barossa, Barry and Julie Hollitt of Nuriootpa housed the biking duo and took them on a day tour of the Barossa Valley.
“We went to Seppeltfields (winery),” Barry said, “and they got to taste a 100-year-old wine.”
The last day of their journey involved a 44.6 kilometre bike ride from Nuriootpa to Cambrai. As they crossed the finished line there were smiles from their supporters, tears and laughter from Charles and Suigi and a lot of yelling by the Cambrai school kids who had been waiting for the biking duo since 12.40pm waving their miniature French flags.
After composing themselves Suigi and Charles rode their bicycles another 450 metres to the Cambrai Hotel were Charles was surprised to be greeted by two of his friends from France.
Since arriving in Cambrai Charles and Suigi have enjoyed tours of the local area, a formal six course dinner and a visit to the Lions Club of Ridley Market Day.
Now the cycling duo and their friends are heading off to Sydney via the Great Ocean Road but this time they are renting a van.